The Oklahoma football program will embark on a new adventure next fall, heading to the ultra-competitive SEC after a near century of competition in the Big 12. Oklahoma will no longer play against the likes of West Virginia, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State annually or bi-yearly. Instead, they will join a conference with powers Georgia, Alabama, and LSU, among others. However, one constant in Oklahoma’s schedule will be playing against their arch-rival, the Texas Longhorns, who will also head to the SEC in 2024.
The Oklahoma-Texas rivalry, aka the Red River Rivalry, goes back to 1900, with Texas holding a 63-51-5 all-time series lead. No love is lost between these programs, but believe it or not, the “horns down” gesture, a shot at the Longhorns, began in 1963 with the Baylor Bears. The “horns down” gesture has since become synonymous with the Red River Rivalry, but that may become a thing of the past if the SEC begins to penalize it. During SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables spoke about the possibility of the “horns down” gesture becoming foregone.
Oklahoma Football HC Brent Venables: Speaks on ‘Horns Down’
Last season, their final in the Big 12, the Oklahoma football program bested the Texas Longhorns 34-30 in an epic come-from-behind victory. En route to a win, the Sooners faithful displayed many “horns down” gestures in the stands. Equally, players have used the “horns down” gesture in-game, a common occurrence when Texas underperformes on Saturdays. However, the signature upside-down hand signal of Texas’ “horns up” could become a thing of the past if SEC officials deem it unsportsmanlike. Nevertheless, Oklahoma football head coach Brent Venables will have his players abide by the rules, regardless of the SEC’s decision, come next fall.
Oklahoma's Brent Venables if Horns down should be a penalty: "I don't really have an opinion. Football is a game of emotion, if they say it's a penalty then don't do it. If it's a free for all, have at it. Whatever rules are in place, we'll do it"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 16, 2024
“I don’t really have an opinion. Football is a game of emotion. If they (the NCAA) say it’s a penalty, then don’t do it. If it’s a free-for-all, have at it. Whatever rules are in place, we’ll do it,” said Venables regarding the “horns down” gesture that opposing players, including many Oklahoma Sooners in recent memory, have used when besting the Texas Longhorns on the football field. Earlier on Tuesday, SEC officials coordinator John McDaid spoke about the possibility of the anti-Texas gesture being penalized moving forward.
“Unsportsmanlike conduct needs to fit one of three categories: Is it taunting an opponent? Is it making a travesty of the game? Is it otherwise compromising our ability to manage the game? There’s a difference between a player giving a signal directly in the face of an opponent and a player doing it with teammates celebrating after a touchdown or on the sideline. To net all that out, every single occurrence is not an act of unsportsmanlike conduct.”
Red River Rivalry: First SEC Edition Coming in Mid-October
The Cotton Bowl in Texas will host the 120th rendition of the Red River Rivalry this October. For the first time in many decades, the difference will be that the Oklahoma football program and Texas Longhorns will not represent the Big 12 but rather the SEC. Last season, Oklahoma took down their rival 34-30. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel hit freshman phenom Nic Anderson for a go-ahead three-yard touchdown with 15 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
However, Gabriel transferred to the Oregon Ducks this offseason, with former five-star mega prospect Jackson Arnold now the team’s starting passer. Conversely, Texas returns star quarterback Quinn Ewers in 2024. Outside of their lone regular season loss to the Sooners, Texas went undefeated, earning a trip to the College Football Playoff. Ewers threw for 346 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions in last year’s matchup with Brent Venables and Oklahoma football.
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